Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1899 — A Little About "[?]" [ARTICLE]

A Little About "[?]"

The wolf scalp business still continues good. Jasper county has a county reform law. —Hebron News. Yes, it was badly needed here, too. The Democrat is pleased to see that its contemporaries are following its lead in the telephone franchise matter. Let’s shake, gentlemen. Isn’t it strange how easy it is to omit to assess some wealthy corporation? But the poor devil with a worthless dog, he don’t get away. Not much. The supreme court has handed dbwn a decision upholding the right of the assessor to examine building and loan books and books of other corporations and to assess same. The “merchandise” bills are very numerous again at this term of Commissioners’ court. We opine the county will use lots less merchandise after the new reform law goes into effect. The taxpayers are still waiting to learn why the expense of county superintendentrand county institutes was s2oomore in Jasper in 1898 than it was in Marion county, and S4OO more than the average for the three preceding years. The American Express Co's property not being on the tax duplicate this year, is owing to the fact that an injuiictionwas secured last year, which is now pending in the Supreme Court, and as soon as decided action will be taken, we are informed. The Standard Oil Co., evidently thinks it should be taxed something in Jasper county although the assessor here ommitted it. A letter was received by the county treasurer Wednesday from its officials asking for the amount of its taxes in Jasper county. Of course the treasurer could find nothing against them. It would be interesting to learn who made oath that the Jasper County Telephone Co., had seven miles of lines in the city limits of Rensselaer in 1896 and "Wl, but only THREE miles in 1898! It was the general impression that the company was extending its lines here in 1898 instead of contracting them four miles. Will any reasonable man contend for a moment that the lines of a telephone company in the city of Rensselaer, where each pole has from fifty to several hundred wires, should be assessed at no more per mile than the lines along country roads, where there are but two to three wires? This is the case, however. Only $25 per mile here in the city, and the same in the country.

Suppose the average yearly rah of each telephone in Rensselaer if $lB, $1.50 per month—and we be lieve this is a fair estimate—witl the 300 phones in use in the city this brings in the comfortable sum of $5,400 each year on a reported SB,OOO investment. The operating expense is probably not to exceed $1,400 at most, and yet Two Dollars and Twenty-Nine Cents is all the taxes levied against this corporation for the yeai 1898! While the franchise excitement was at its height, a bomb was exploded in the republican camp and it came from a source least expected. Bro. Marshall announeed that “municipal ownership of such public or semi-public institutions as water-works, lighting systems, and telephone exchanges is coming more and more into vogue, and whenever given a fail trial is proving to be the right system.” Many of the “old duffers” who have for years read the Republican much more carefully than they have read the bible, looked hard at this sentence and then read it again. I’ll be ’ ——!! to !!! if Marshall ain’t turned out to be-a ! !!

It is to be presumed thed sales of “canned roast beef” Immb Mtea off considerably of late. Have you noticed how all The Democrat’s ante-election exposures of official rottenness in Jasper county are being proven true? When you see it in The Democrat it’s so. The Barnacle wants the present democratic county central committee kicked out and republicans put in in their stead. The Democrat would suggest that the Barnacle “editor” be made treasurer of the new organization. He has shown a wonderful aptitude in the past for collecting campaign funds and will put all money that may come into his hands where it will do the most good.

It is really amusing to note the solicitude Bro. Marshall has for the people of Newton county, and no doubt the people over there feel nothing but resentment for his impertinence in trying to ‘put in’’ where be is in no way concerned. The people of Newton are amply able to fight their own battles without any outside help, and Mr. Marshall’s “fair” proposition of deciding the matter of re-location of their county seat is as amusing as it is impractical and expensive. The bill itself, as we understand it, was prepared by Morocco parties, sections 17 and 18, and the change in the per oent. necessary for removal from 55 to 65 being added by Kentland, therefore whatever other bad features the bill may contain are directly chargeable to Morocco. We say this in justice to Kentland, and do not wish to be misunderstood as being “fominst” Morocco, or removal. Had Bro. Marshall's proposition on submitting the question of building a new court house here, to a popular vote, been adopted, how many votes would have been recorded in favor of the $175,000 court house Jasper county is now enjoying?

For the benefit of The Democrat's readers, many of whom are much in the dark as to what is included in the term “merchandise” as given in the published allowances of the commissioneis. we take a few items from bills allow ed at the last term of commissioners court and entered as merchandise: Towels, SI.OO. Towels. $1.50. 100 rolls silk toilet paper, $9.50. 12 quarts lawn seed. $4. 50 rolls toilet pai>er. $4. 1 floor brush, $4. 1 floor brush, $4.50. 1 pants brush, SCc.

And so we mightgo on and on had we the space, showing the items included and the exorbitant prices the county is paying for supplies, A fine floor brush can be bought almost anywhere from $1 to $1.50, while toilet paper equally as good as that for which the county is paying $9.50 per hundred rolls for, can be had for $4, and the writer sold for the Odd Feilows’ building here some months ago 100 rolls of this paper for $4 and then made a fair profit on the deal. This price of $4 per 100 rolls is open to any one, even Jasper county is not barred. Any dealer can sell it for that price and make a good profit. The writer is not familiar with the price of lawn grass seed, but $ll.OO per bushel will no doubt strike the average taxpayer as a trifle “dear.” Perhaps, however, this was a very superior kind of seed. The Indianapolis Sentinel makes some timely remarks cm the appointment of members of the county and township councils. It saw The circuit judges of the state have a most important duty before them in the appointment of the members of the township and county councils under the new laws, and they should be giving their serious attention to the matter. There is very general confidence in the character of the circuit judges, and, in fact, their selection for this duty was practically a vote of confidence in them. It should be performed in a way that will justify the confidence bestowed. The new system may not prove to be all that its advocates hope, or it may result even better than they anticipated. In way event it is certain that much wifi depend on the way in which it is inaugerated, and that will depend on the kind of men that are selected for the councils. It is not only the present success of the system that is dependent on this selection but to a large extent the future also. It is therefore desirable that the judges should give the subject prompt attention and not delay the matter of selection to the last moment when hasty judgement may result badly. Look the ground over carefully and pick out good men.

Ab BesHfapeaH, aoff dfey FMHestbattme oraßaae Humite rer of dapfaaff, as awt far have ithesetfirtfflmwiai than ]y used fey man. And «tiil thty rcame Drt or irinfiranee—fai&wfi wt earn arrive at no"flffl>er<<taMfftnHJfm tthaa that the pdbtitad party fa ywanr ’ in both -state and mrttan tonitey » screening, fostening. sanfl ffawoirihgr them —th itwitilHrtanffinip nfa. SifflFman anti-trust ihar off kasbeen declared xaffid by tiihe est judicial tnAnmufl fa tribe famd. And «am we fefanre tibmn? Tlte keystone erf mqpriffinmiHun. pn®tection. was uonceimdamd Bmmchti forth for mo other jpmfwwe.. Cbmceived in-sin, Irengfifl ff onttki ini mi-J IX ~*-4 -4 h n n n c *~n iquity. Binwrßti toy ibiuffsnmm. fraud, and mwmHireuHdoctrine has incKKiifitfteil till* ♦mliiirenation with lifts ihrnnwAih- ntJlfaU, ■- - “ : mg nrous. It has taught tribe jpeeplh- by bwtrik precept and rpratHaoe tribal ntsbhany_. if sanctioned by Hhw_ was si Ibgjitemate occupatiian. T&nrsnigfii ids OI and corrupted -even tribe of justice ! For seven long waany yarns tike Supreme Court <ttf Ottnc bus been the Standard <jfil Ca. Tame until again have the erffirifak- <df tfiiis company been in iffiafurt tfifru£ken®t of the orders <eff tfifa eniurtL ywtt itt * has made mo effort adtatterar ft® assent its authority!’ Is it Beesanw !it has not the Admit triinil i fact and you admit ttfctft tthe tttniHte are already amnapefteut. St®. trifac is not the reason, fit is IfowiinHU* the afficers of ihiis wftiber.. tthiis «nremy erf mankind grow ffifesssßiy of their stolen Hnbatanoe.. tt® greatse the wheels erf the rejnAiiicmi «fawriot of State., and ft® (endow etoillenes!! Colleges in which jptffertotte are ft® be educated, und imade ireudw to exercise theragdrts <s£ meftde aiittirzenship’! They<d® mot-ittqp tribtre;. but invade the th®Dy (piiuftes amil clothed with Hoqptate mud -suryffiee jKiint the wsy ft® etesmtd ilifiss!! At first suppliciftrve ;mid tatatrite. these rimadivutriiess <<i«mmorrj ants have long hinne (dumandsd.. and have been gpwm legal! iiictneeito prey off from 'cansunmEn, wudhi out let -or hmdranoe, mud wlhut us more heinous, they <diifftUle the amount of booty they (desire tt® «s----tort! And so far has the monniQthai engendered by tins wenail, tins (debasing. this dqprarhjgidofttmiue become inculcated ink® the teweuwdhw walks of life that it (canoes m® mnr- - prise to hear («rf pdfafie (Ofikiiulk <orr citizens, high and ilow„ bHinaryiimg their trusts, and Bwwwnmgg ffiigytives from justice^it ms <ciom«idered as a ■niaiftetr crf (ouinse. Why shouldn’t they By wftut other means can they tfwam aqyi* Why-should the favored Sow be ven legal license tk® tdespmiL anil rob, the many? Fi<am wdkeniKacomesthis rnnverstdoukcoy the laxness with wftnA lofld-fetdfti-ioned honesty bangs tfla* people, if not from tflm fairtt tint! robbery has been Ihigdfaatd when the robber is -engagedin <t«rttuin pursuits? As long mi«mstrous eystem iis in texMteutve tfflur people have bad <one (defcaae, tfgbti the devil with ifire. Sfasffl thty stand meekly By and be ordHbed <rff their scanty -snibstetnoe wnSfenffit sB much as a protest? 'HhC ns nntt human nature. bach until such liimeasfinrtthor endurance becomes iimpiiiariMi and then—noman knowetihlffl]£«uiktwune. It would be wdD i«r tfhne fcwnnaind few tc take warning bafane ilt k too late and confine tfln Tw iifi itj within reasanuble bauadk. I&e warm nuy turn <an its tkummitans at anytime,and when Iffitet tint? does